I AM getting just a little concerned about the state of our police forces.

It has long been my opinion that nationally, we do not have enough bobbies on the beat.

However, with the recession continuing to bite, police authority budgets are going to be low so where do you think savings will be made?

This week, Hertfordshire Police Authority announced that budget cuts could force it to lose 200 police officers.

Its Home Office budget for 2010/11 will be cut by £4.1 million – so it could be a case of higher taxes or less police officers.

As chairman Stuart Nagler says: “The authority has some very hard choices to make in the next few months.”

Across the border Bedfordshire Police Authority will tonight discuss proposals to cut the force by around 30 officers as it looks to deal with a proposed shortfall of nearly £1.6 million in its budget.

Its chairman has warned, however, that this number could increase to 100 police officers if things do not improve.

Bedfordshire Police and Hertfordshire Constabulary have already collaborated on certain initiatives including a crackdown on un-roadworthy vehicles, so I am left wondering how far this partnership could go.

A year ago it was revealed that savings of £650,000 a year would be made by merging three areas of the two authorities: joint dog sections, professional standards departments and scientific services.

The proposals were developed in consultation with staff by the “Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Joint Collaboration Programme”, which is based in Harpenden.

At the time, Peter Conniff, chairman of Bedfordshire Police Authority, said: “Collaboration can bring enormous benefits . . . I am confident that the significant steps that have been agreed over the past few days will bring about increased capability and efficiency.”

However this month Mr Conniff was not so buoyant when he said this about the his force’s proposed budget: “It’s extremely concerning because if the same thing happens next year and the year after we may be getting a reduction of up to 100 police officers. All 43 police forces are experiencing similar problems during the current economic climate.”

His full statement was almost identical to that of Mr Nagler.

On the plus side police officers cannot be made redundant but forces always have positions to fill so it is not inconceivable that vacancies will simply disappear without appointments.

Hertfordshire Constabulary already seems particularly keen to employ more special constables, our part-time friends.

So could we see more employed at the expense of full time police officers?

The force is now eager to take more specials on in rural areas adding that those who own horses can use them as a method of transport. Inspector George Holland believes this will lead to a cut down on carbon emissions, encouraging farmers and gamekeepers to sign up.

I do not know about you, but rather than cut down on emissions I have always preferred a cut in crime.

A look on the constabulary’s website also gives you a clear indication of its current thinking. Click on vacancies and “special constables” are the first words you see. And would you believe the second position – for applicants who think they are extra special – is for a “specialist special constables”?

Nationally one of Britain’s most senior police officers has proposed more mergers of our police forces to save money.

Sir Hugh Orde, president of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO), says the figure of 43 UK forces is too high and needs to shrink by up to 20 per cent.

This follows an old Labour idea of four years ago which suggested the creation of 17 new, larger police forces.

Sir Hugh says there is “no more money for the public sector” while the Police Federation and Association of Police Authorities agree that financially more mergers could lead to savings but logistically they could create as many problems as they solve.

We have been here before of course.

In July last year a police green paper was released encouraging more forces to merge.

Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire came dangerously close to joining forces in 2006, but back then, a third county was involved.

A merger would be far more beneficial to Bedfordshire Police, a small force that deals with big issues and wide crime in Luton, than it would be in Hertfordshire, but I believe we are not that far away.

We already have an ambulance service which covers an area of 7,500 square miles from Cambridge to Watford and St Albans to Norwich and many believe that – despite an estimated set-up cost of £800million in 2005 – such a scheme could be cost effective.

A friend of mine who is a police officer in Bedfordshire is rightly worried and says we should be too.

As he put it: “If an armed robbery is going on in St Albans, and the armed response team is based in Bedford, the robbers will have time for a cup of tea before making their getaway.”

Put like that you can see why he is concerned.